As Dr. Tom Crawford said, sportsmanship and
honorable behavior on the field and off are essential aspects of sports.
The rules aren't new or hard to follow. This holds true for youths and adults,
amateurs and pros. Read on to find out what Tony DiCicco, former coach of
the US Women's National Soccer Team and Clarisse Machanguana, Center for
the Los Angeles Sparks, think about good sportsmanship.
Tony DiCicco On Sportsmanship:
Throughout my life as a player and coach, sportsmanship has always been
very important to me. Our motto with the US Women's National Team was always,
"play to win, but play fairly". For example, during the 1996 Olympics when
we won the Gold Medal, the US Team was also the recipient of FIFA's Fair
Play Award. In 1999 when we won the Women's World Cup, the US Team was the
least carded team throughout the tournament. I am very proud of these two
accomplishments and feel they emphasize the fact that a team can win, solely
with skill and determination while still having respect for their opponents.
An unwritten rule at the highest levels of sports is that the game is sacred,
there is no room for violence beyond what is accepted and normal for the
game, and 99% of the players, coaches, officials and fans understand and
abide by this belief. It is true that occasionally, incidents happen that
bring sportsmanship to the forefront of people's minds and give us cause
for reflection on our own actions and those of our teammates.
Recently, Sun Wen, a great player with the Chinese Women's National Team
was injured. I know that the entire US Women's National Team wishes her
the best and hopes that she will make a speedy return to the playing field.
I have also spoken to her personally to wish her the best. It will always
be my philosophy to teach my teams and players to compete fiercely on the
field but respect their opponents off the field.
Clarisse Machanguana on Honor, Integrity and Ethics in Sports:
Love and respect for the game (whether it is basketball or any other sport)
is one of the best feelings you can have, because it breeds challenge, competition,
passion and fun. In essence, participating in sports can teach one all the
necessary ingredients for real life: courage, ambition, and perseverance,
as well as inspire self-improvement and a passion for life. Unfortunately,
society has come to emphasize the importance of winning to such a degree
that some people will do just about anything to win, to be the best, to
be successful without regard to people's feelings, morals, or reasons for
participating in sports in the first place. The pressure and ambition to
win is blinding people to such an extreme that it not only endangers those
involved, but darkens the real purpose of sports: healthy competition, challenge,
fun, and love for the game.
I think that most professional athletes should do a better job of showing
children the difference between competing for love of the sport and competing
strictly for the end result of winning. There is nothing wrong with teaching
young children how important it is to try to make their dreams come true
through hard work, a competitive attitude and approach to the game, and
a lot of passion, as long as their manners are in accordance with acceptable
moral values both in sports and in life.
The importance of sportsmanship is priceless. Acting as a good sport and
acting in a manner which shows your love for your sport and for healthy
competition demonstrates strength of character and allows you to set a good
example for the younger children who strive to make their dreams a reality.
The athlete who shows dignity, self-respect and an awareness of other people's
principles and morals and yet is still able to rise above the challenges
of his or her sport should be brought to the public eye more often. These
are the athletes who truly leave the legacy of a good role model, and who
demonstrate sportsmanship above and beyond all else. Sportsmanship, when
displayed at its best, is the most fundamental characteristic athletes can
gain from their love of their sport. Displaying good sportsmanship sets
an example for those who aim to accomplish similar goals. It defines an
athlete as someone of character with respectable moral values, and it teaches
invaluable life lessons that others can follow. These lessons of courage,
passion, competition, ambition, self respect, public awareness, and love
for the game as well as life are the most precious lessons of all. |
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